Résultats de recherche

Ophrys speculum. Ophrys miroir. Mirror orchid Also called Ophrys ciliata . eyebrow. A rare species in continental France, it is found in Corsica and on Mediterranean islands. Its almost permanent absence in France would be due to the lack of pollinating insects, so the populations observed are rarely perennial: it appears here and there, disappears and then reappears. But how does it manage to flower? As it is found in the Mediterranean departments, and sporadically on the Atlantic coast, the fertile seeds would arrive carried by the southerly winds, which would allow the emergence of small populations but not their development from flowering plants in France. Easily recognizable with its shiny labellum, sometimes blue, initially surrounded by yellow and then fringed with abundant hair, it looks like it is made of glazed or enameled ceramic. It grows in open wasteland, scrubland and in calcareous soil. Click on the photos to enlarge

Anacamptis longicornu. Orchis à long éperon. Long spurred orchid. (Poiret) Where to find it ? Clic on the map and connect to Orchis sauvage, FFO-Fédération France Orchidées Quite close to Anacamptis morio, its purple coloring (but the shades are sometimes paler) and the fewer flowers will be determining elements. The labellum is often very folded on the sides and has a thin edge. The colors are very variable ranging from almost white to deep purple. Finally, the plant is rare in France: Corsica and some Mediterranean departments. Click on the photos to enlarge

Découvrez les associations orchidophiles actives. French Society of Orchidophilia. French Federation of Orchid Lovers. Founded in 1969 and with 1,500 members and many more in regional associations, the SFO is the benchmark for French associations on the subject. Dealing with the cultivation of tropical orchids but also present for the preservation of French orchids, the association publishes Orchidophile, a quarterly newsletter. Its format has recently expanded to highlight a generous iconography . The subscription is not conditional on membership of the SFO and allows consultation of the archives (a hundred issues already online out of 200). Having completed the digitization of these archives for the association, I think I can say that it is a mine of knowledge on the subject which has little equivalent elsewhere. The French federation of orchid lovers recently joined the SFO in order to unite their resources on common projects. https://sfo-asso.fr/ https://sfo-asso.fr/publications/lorchidophile/ https://ffao-asso.jimdofree.com/ Wild orchid One of the missions of the FFO is to enable orchid populations to be monitored both geographically and temporally. For many years now, Wild Orchis, through a collaboration of volunteers, both in running the site and in collecting data, has enabled this dynamic monitoring. https://www.orchisauvage.fr/index.php

Platanthera chlorantha. Platanthère verte. Greater butterfly orchid. Rather widespread outside of a few departments, this orchid can be found from sea level up to 2000 meters. It grows in open meadows and in shaded areas from the end of April until July for high altitude stations. In metropolitan France, we also find Platanthera bifolia. Differentiating the two is not easy from a morphological point of view: from 20 to 60 cm, the same shades and similar leaves. It will therefore be necessary to approach it closely and observe the inside of the flower. The anthers are distant and trapezoidal in shape for chlorantha and tight and parallel for bifolia. The first views of these two species will therefore illustrate this point. Click on the photos to enlarge

Découvrez Ophrys fuciflora Ophrys frelon sur Orchidée-photo.com Ophrys druentica. Ophrys de la Durance. Durance orchid. (P. Delforge & Viglione) Ophrys druentica was only described in 2006. This shows that it is not one of the absolutely essential species among the taxa related to Ophrys fuciflora. It is difficult to find fundamental differences with the type species. Ophrys × souchei or Ophrys aegertica, which are very similar and also described more recently (in 2012 and 1996 respectively), belong to this group of regional species that do not revolutionize taxonomy, neither through morphology, phenology, nor flowering period. The same goes for micro-populations (<200 individuals) such as those of Ophrys montis-aviarii (and likewise for Ophrys demangei or Ophrys linearis, considered late-flowering to justify their existence, though some orchid enthusiasts are surprised and proud to find them precociously during field trips...!!). Thus, everything overlaps, and even the authors mention possible hybrids... which complicates identification (sic). Are we going mad with Ophrys fuciflora? Kew Garden currently lists Ophrys druentica only as a synonym of Ophrys fuciflora. The species is therefore presented here to report the specimens encountered in the Var under the local name. Almost all of the photographs shown below (May 8 and 9) were taken on a site of 300 to 500 m² and illustrate the diversity of the species within a colony. Often, identifications are made by “sheep-like behavior,” and species are recognized according to the place and date of the shot rather than what they truly are. Swap the photos while declaring another location and date, and no one would detect the trick...

Dactylorhiza maculata . Orchis maculé. Heath spotted orchid. Some Dactylorhiza will be difficult to identify because each species varies and hybrids are common. In some regions, these hybrids are more numerous than the type species. Observing Dactylorhiza is proof that once again, some specialists tend to segment and name what are sometimes only varieties. Evolution is certainly underway, but it will not happen on the scale of current humanity. Patience! I will therefore only present a few species, those whose identification remains certain. Dactylorhiza maculata is a plant that likes many environments, dry or humid but rather on calcareous soil. The flowers are quite colorful but white is often very present. The labellum does not have the characteristic tip of Dactylorhiza fuchsii but confusion remains possible on intermediate individuals possibly hybrids. Click on the photos to enlarge

Epipactis palustris. Epipactis des marais. Marsh helleborine. One of the most beautiful orchids in France due to its very "tropical" or exotic appearance. The floral elements of Epipactis are complex and sometimes very colorful. But the flowering of the majority of species is often late (from June to August) and for many species takes place in the undergrowth. They are therefore not very noticeable at this relatively late time. New species are discovered (or named) regularly in Europe. The genus Epipactis is also very widespread in the northern hemisphere. Species hybridize easily within the genus, which will sometimes complicate identification. For Epipactis palustris, confusion is almost impossible: it is found in a humid environment (possibly flooded part of the year), the fairly numerous flowers are generally hanging but open. The labellum is quite long with a beautiful white ending. The pubescent foot measures from 20 to 60 cm with a few more or less sheathing leaves at the base. The species is relatively rare but when the biotope suits it, its dissemination can be rapid and the plants very abundant. This species is naturally visited by very many pollinating insects. In Epipactis, the labellum is divided into two parts: the hypochile, concave, contains more or less nectar, which gives it a shiny appearance, and the epichile, often pointed, sometimes folded, with a complex appearance, rarely smooth and covered with bumps, hollows or furrows that allow insects to cling while they draw nectar. Petals and sepals are generally of the same color, more or less greenish. The pollinia, once stuck on the head of the insect, slowly disintegrate, which allows several flowers to be fertilized. Click on the photos to enlarge

Dactylorhiza incarnata. Orchis incarnat. Early marsh orchid. Some Dactylorhiza will give you a hard time in terms of their identification because each species varies and hybrids are frequent. In some regions, these hybrids would be more numerous than the type species. Observing the Dactylorhiza is the demonstration that once again, some specialists tend to segment and name what are sometimes only varieties. Evolution is certainly underway but it will not happen on the scale of current humanity. Patience! I will therefore only present a few species, those whose identification remains certain. Dactylorhiza incarnata is a plant that can be found on humid and rather alkaline substrates. The flowers are quite colorful but do not trust the very variable patterns. The labellum is narrow, a little folded which gives it an elongated shape. Click on the photos to enlarge

Serapias lingua. Serapias en langue. Tongue orchid. Serapias cannot be confused with any other species of orchid. Identifying them from each other will sometimes be more complex because it is normally necessary to explore their interior. Most species (the most common) are fortunately easily identifiable from their morphological appearance. Doubt will remain when certain species coexist and hybrids may appear. Essentially Mediterranean, some species are found in the southwest quarter and go up to Vendée. Sporadic appearances are observed elsewhere and notably in the Paris region, but the development remains random and these are rarely viable populations due to the lack of pollinating insects. Nevertheless, serapias develop several tubers and can thus, when conditions are favorable, multiply vegetatively, thus constituting small colonies without having been pollinated. Depending on the region, flowering will take place from April to June. Serapias lingua is a species widespread south of a diagonal that goes from Brittany to Nice. Its presence does not of course stop at the French borders. Few flowers on each foot, a dark pink glabrous labellum and a remarkable dark callus. Size from 10 to 30 cm. Click on the photos to enlarge

Neotinea lactea. Orchis lacté. Milky orchid. Neotinea lactea is very close to Neotinea tridentata or Neotinea conica and there is great confusion between these species. The iconography of the authors can also be questioned because it sometimes does not match the descriptions, varying greatly from one guide to another... We must therefore remain cautious before stating with certainty which species it is: conica, tridentata or lactea. The differences concern, among other things, the size of the flowers or the shape of the floral stem: more conical for N conica , more cylindrical for N lactea . Since many plants are pauciflorous, it is almost impossible to certify whether the stem is conical or cylindrical... I am not afraid to state that when observing in the field, these variations exist within the same station and therefore appear to be not very discriminating if they are different species. Even though the only way to correctly identify a "difficult" species is to find several individuals with the same characteristics! And the risk of hybridization would be high for plants sharing the same biotope and flowering at the same time. In the current state of the descriptions of the different guides which present few photos and descriptions insufficiently discriminating, I grouped my views under N lactea not having encountered a station with enough specimens with conical stem to claim to have encountered it. However, it is almost impossible to be mistaken when you come across it and to confuse it with other neotinea (ustulata or maculata). The stems are quite stocky and the plant is often not very tall. The flowers are white or pink in color and pigmented. The helmet is streaked with green like Anacamptis morio (Jewel orchid). Click on the photos to enlarge

Ophrys massiliensis. Ophrys de Marseille. Early spider orchid. Almost nothing will differentiate it from the Ophrys aranifera/sphegodes (Spider Orchid) from a morphological point of view. Its labellum a little smaller perhaps? Carrying a caliper or being able to compare the 2 species in the same place is not the most convenient, even impossible since its singularity lies in its precocity because it flowers in the south of France from January most often but sometimes from the end of December. It is therefore officially only a subspecies or early regional variety, very similar to the Ophrys sphegodes (Spider Orchid). Click on the photos to enlarge